This is a method of using a camera inserted through the mouth down the throat to the upper small intestine to detect abnormalities in the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine in patients with the following symptoms:
- Patients with chronic intermittent fullness at the epigastric area
- Those with acid reflux symptoms that have been treated for 2 weeks without improvement
- Those experiencing painful swallowing, stuck swallowing, or difficulty swallowing
- Those with unexplained anemia
- Those with unexplained loss of appetite and weight loss
- Those vomiting blood or passing black stools
The benefits of endoscopy are the ability to diagnose, evaluate, and treat diseases of the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine such as strictures, inflammation, ulcers, cancer, and bleeding. Tissue can be biopsied or bleeding stopped during the endoscopic examination.
Procedure and Examination Method
- Patients must undergo a health assessment before the examination and inform the doctor of any underlying diseases and regular medications.
- Fasting from food and drink for 4-6 hours before the examination to prevent food from obstructing the view and to avoid aspiration during the procedure.
- If wearing dentures, they should be removed.
- Then, a local anesthetic spray will be applied in the mouth to reduce throat irritation during and after the endoscopy. The doctor will perform the endoscopy, which takes about 10 minutes. During this time, the patient may be given sedatives to reduce anxiety if desired.
- After the endoscopy, patients should refrain from oral intake until fully awake and the throat numbness has subsided before starting to eat. Food should not be too cold or too hot initially.
Possible Complications
Patients may experience abdominal bloating and discomfort, but symptoms usually improve within 6-8 hours.
Bleeding from the endoscopy is very rare and usually occurs when a large biopsy is taken, especially if the patient cannot stop blood-thinning medications before the procedure.
Dr. Natthiwut Wattanarakskul
Gastroenterology Specialist
Gastroenterology and Liver Center, Phyathai 2 Hospital
